More from NBC

Voinovich a 'yes' on Sotomayor

From NBC's Kelly O'Donnell and Mark MurrayOhio Republican George Voinovich

says he will vote for Sonia Sotomayor, becoming the ninth GOP senator to signal support for the Supreme Court nominee.

Voinovich, of course, isn't running for re-election next year. And this means that four of the six retiring Republican senators are voting for Sotomayor. (Note: Earlier today, we said that Voinovich voting for her would make it four of five, but we forgot Sam Brownback's retirement.)

To put it another way, about half of the Republicans voting for her are retiring....

*** UPDATE *** Here's Voinovich's statement: "Judge Sotomayor is not the nominee I would have selected if I were president, but making a nomination is not my role here today. My role is to examine her qualifications to determine if she is fit to serve... I believe the factors to be examined in determining whether a Supreme Court nominee is qualified include her education, prior legal and judicial experience, judicial temperament, and commitment to the rule of law. Based on my review of her record, and using these factors, I have determined that Judge Sotomayor meets the criteria to become a Justice on the Supreme Court."